Florida Appeals Court Grants New Trial for Woman Accused of Firing Warning Shot at Abusive Husband

Those of us who care about justice, or lack thereof in the domestic violence arena were heartened to read that Marissa Alexander, a Florida woman convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 20 years for firing a warning shot at the wall to scare off her abusive spouse, will get a new trial. Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground law was used as part of her defense and while the court ruled, inexplicably that she could not use that defense, she will get a new trial. That Stand Your Ground law certainly has a questionably squiggly line for who may use it, doesn't it??


http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/26/20708537-florida-woman-given-20-years-for-firing-warning-shot-gets-new-trial?lite 

A Local Kickoff to Domestic Violence Month

 On October 1st, Between Friends, an agency that fights domestic abuse and provides services to victims in the Chicago area, will host an event they call Light Up the Lakefront with staff, volunteers, and passersby lighting thousands of candles along Oak Street Beach in memory of those who lost their lives at the hands of their abusers. We intend to support this event and hope you will too.

When is "helping" actually enabling?

Please read over this short article that poses the question of when looking the other way when there are signs of domestic violence can actually become enabling?



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-delaney/when-does-helping-a-troub_b_3895775.html

NFL Pittsburgh Steelers William Gay on losing his mom to domestic violence

 Please take a minute to watch this:


http://www.upworthy.com/how-often-does-a-football-player-make-you-cry-depends-on-how-many-times-you-watch-this-video-2